Chennaites Alert: New Toll Plazas On ECR - Know Fees Here

The cost of travelling along the East Coast Road (ECR) between Villupuram and Mayiladuthurai is set to increase, as the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has announced the addition of two new toll plazas, DTNext reported.

The Villupuram-Mayiladuthurai stretch, a vital segment of the 179.6-km ECR widening project, spans 123 km and is being transformed into a four-lane road. This ambitious project, with an investment of approximately ₹6,000 crore, aims to boost connectivity to several coastal towns, including:

• Puducherry
• Cuddalore
• Chidambaram
• Sirkazhi
• Karaikal

New Toll Plazas on ECR
NHAI officials have clarified that the two toll plazas were introduced following the completion of key sections of the project:

Gangarampalayam Toll Plaza: Located on the 29-km Villupuram-Puducherry stretch.
Kothatai Toll Plaza: Positioned along the 56.8-km Poondiyankuppam-Sattanathapuram stretch.

Additionally, another toll plaza will be established at Sattanathapuram in Mayiladuthurai after the remaining construction on the 55.755-km Sattanathapuram-Nagapattinam stretch is completed, expected by October next year.

Toll Rates for the New Plazas
The toll charges for one-way trips are as follows:

Gangarampalayam Toll Plaza

• Light motor vehicles (cars, jeeps, vans): Rs 60
• Light commercial vehicles, light goods vehicles, minibuses: Rs 95
• Buses, trucks (double-axle): Rs 200

Kothatai Toll Plaza

• Light motor vehicles (cars, jeeps, vans): ₹125
• Light commercial vehicles, light goods vehicles, minibuses: ₹200
• Buses, trucks (double-axle): ₹425

These toll plazas at Gangarampalayam and Kothatai bring the total number of toll booths in Tamil Nadu to 72.

Progress on the ECR Widening Project

The 38-km stretch from Puducherry to Poondiyankuppam has been completed and awaits a safety audit.

The ongoing work on the Sattanathapuram-Nagapattinam stretch has reached 55% completion, targeting an October 2024 finish.

Once the project is fully realized, travellers can expect smoother connectivity across the ECR, making the journey from Villupuram to Sattanathapuram more efficient. However, the addition of toll plazas has sparked discussions among commuters about the rising cost of travel in Tamil Nadu.